Serdia Starfall

What could it be? Is it really something so awful that he had to keep it from me? I couldn't help but to wonder about it tonight. Plus, I think I'm still energized from the excitement of actually seeing a little bit of the outside world to sleep tonight.
"You're prowling around awfully late Arta." Dmitri told me as I walked up to the entrance leading into the royal library "I'm afraid that Master Sigurt has retired for the night."
"I'm not interested in seeing Sigurt right now Dmitri."
"Then, what business are you on if I may ask Arta?" Dmitri asked puzzled.
"My own. Can you just let me go in Dmitri?" I demanded, dismissing his curiosity.
"The library caretaker has also retired Artalien, you know what time it is? No one but the king, Sigurt, or Cecil are to enter it when no one else is around."
"Listen, Dmitri, I know that Sigurt has a test planned out for me today over the life of Indor Black. Can't we just break the rules just this once? For the Chosen no less?" I pleaded.
Dmitri was my friend. There was no way he'd say no. Especially with an iron-clad excuse like that.
Dmitri sighed heavily, "I'm afraid I can't do that Arta. You're just going to have to apologize to Sigurt in the morning for failing the test."
What!?
"Are you serious Dmitri? You're just going to leave me out in the cold like this? I mean, come on man!" I tried to keep my voice down, but this was unacceptable.
"What do you want me to do Arta? You're my friend, but if anyone found out I broke the rules to help you cheat on the..."
"Cheat?" I was mad now. Doesn't matter whether or not the story was true anymore. I'm not a cheater. "You think I'm going to go in there and cheat? Exactly how does that work Dmitri?"
"Listen, whatever, Artalien, the doors are locked, and, guess what? I don't have the key. Only two exist, and neither are in my possession, so even if I wanted to, I can't help you."
"So why the hell are you guarding this door Dmitri?" I asked, glaring at him now.
"You know, I'll be sure to ask them when they come back, in the morning, like you should Artalien." Dmitri responded tiredly.
"You don't really know why you're here do you?"
"If I had to guess, it would be specifically for moments like these when you come around wanting to get in the library after hours. I'm the guy they put here to tell you 'no' and takes his job very seriously when it comes to the Chosen." Dmitri rubbed his temples like he had a headache.
"So, you're not going to let me in?" I asked one more time.
"Can't say that I am or could Artalien." he answered.
"Fine, I guess I'll come back tomorrow and embarrass myself in front of Sigurt," I gave my best fake pout face.
"You're a smart kid Artalien, I'm sure it won't be all that bad." Dmitri rebutted it
"I guess." I conceded.
"Have a good night Arta. See you tomorrow." Dmitri waved goodbye.
Well, that didn't work well. And to think I thought Dmitri was my friend. Rubbish.

I strolled out to the inner courtyard. The fresh air was nice. This was the place where every Chosen was immortalized in stone. During our last years before the Sacrifice, the royal family requests the most talented stone-cutter and artist to come to the castle to sculpt a statue of the Chosen in his or her likeness. I see that the stone where my own statue is to be has already been brought into the courtyard. Dreadfully bulky thing, hard to imagine it'll look just like me in a few years. I guess I should feel honored to have my image preserved after I'm gone, but, it feels like I'm staring into my future tombstone.
There was one thing I noticed about all the statues of the Chosen. None of them are smiling. They all have this look of absolute seriousness about them. It's plastered all over their faces. Like the burden of their task was about to swallow them whole. And, I guess it really was.
"Can't sleep either Arta?" a voice crackled in the darkness.
"Is that you, Lacant?" I was almost too surprised to believe it at first.
"You sound shocked to see me. You might be surprised to learn that even old men like me have trouble sleeping every once and a while son."
There he went again, calling me son . Like I was actually his son.
"Why can't you sleep?" I asked.
"I guess I'm just too absorbed in thought to let sleep take them from me." he mused.
"What's on your mind?"
"Well..." he came closer "You are of course."
"Missing me already? I can't even leave the city, it's not like I'm far away Lacant."
"It's not that Arta." his eyes were distant, something strange for him "It's just, I've lived through three Sacrifices, and now I face my fourth. And I still haven't gotten used to it."
"I... see...." I stammered to get those two words out. I never really thought about all that he's gone through. I didn't really know what to say.
"You know Arta, Indor and I were born around the same time." Lacant said, motioning me toward the statue of Indor Black "Since he was confined to the castle since nearly birth, we grew up together. I knew him quite well. He was a good boy, a good man..." Lacant faded off.
I looked at the statue. He looked so sad. I couldn't help but to feel sorry for him. Looking over at Lacant's face, I saw that same sadness, that same pain scorching his features into this despair. It hurt to even look at them.
"It must've been hard for you to see him sacrificed." I whispered.
"He was like my brother. And, there was nothing I could do but watch him accept his fate. And, in an instant, he was gone. The world mourned a bit, then went on like nothing ever happened. We just get up and start looking for the next Chosen born, so that he or she too may grow up and die for us."
Even Lacant... Even he was now talking about how he didn't like the Sacrifice. But, what do I say? To talk about betraying the duties of the Chosen might be a bad idea in front of the king. I still can't tell if he's on my side or just talking.