There will be a lot of dialogue and background info put into this chapter, so stick around to find out some important stuff. Enjoy!
"Do you actually plan on sleeping tonight?" Connor sat down on the couch, removing his helmet.
"I don't really need to sleep that badly, and you're intriguing." Irelia sat down in her couch chair across from him. "I'd like to actually get to know you. For instance, I haven't seen you make any other facial expression other than a frown. I know you must not be happy often, but ever?"
"First of all, I can't tell you the last time I felt happy, Irelia. Second of all, I would like to play a game. It will help us to learn more about each other. For every two questions you ask me, I get to ask one back to you." He looked at her, as if daring her to object.
"I can work with that." She paused for a minute, "What was your dragon's name?"
"Her name was Aurora, and she hatched when I was twelve. She was my other half, she made me happy. The most ferocious dragon you'd ever seen, yet small and agile." He looked down, "And then… her life was taken, as you know, eight years ago."
"Who killed her?" She asked, leaning forward, contemplating whether or not to try and comfort him.
"I don't think it's right to tell you who it was right now, but know that it was a man that I hate. I hate him with all my heart." His face hardened for a split second, she may have imagined it. "My question for you, Irelia, how did you come to join the Varden?"
"I joined the Varden, you could say for revenge. My father was slain in the war against the king, killed by Galbatorix himself." She looked down as well. Neither of them showed any emotions.
"What do you know about me?" She sat up and stared straight at Connor.
"Explain."
"You seem to be knowledgeable on people, just be looking at them, I want you to do that to me. Tell me what you know from just looking at me." He sat up, making direct eye contact with her.
"You're alone. You were alone before your elven companions died, I am sorry for their deaths, I know it is hard to lose loved ones…" He trailed off, "I can also tell that you are loyal, strong willed, and a powerful warrior."
"Why do you think that I'm alone?" She gazed at him in curiosity.
"The way you carry yourself. The way you address people. You carry that same blank stare. I know that when you look at me, you can see that I too, am alone. You live in this hut as far away from everyone as possible. And I can see the sadness, the emptiness behind your eyes. You see it in me too."
"I guess it's good to be able to read people in your situation. Okay." She took a deep breath, "You said that you were a human, and then a rider, and you are no longer human. What are you then?"
"Irelia, promise to me that you won't overreact, or tell anyone about this." She promised, "Two years after Aurora hatched, the king decided that I was too weak. I got beaten and attacked, tortured even. Durza did that, and he was the main help in turning me into…" He hesitated, taking a deep breath, "I am a shade."
"But you are sane." She crossed her arms, seemingly not even surprised at his admittance.
"I am as close to sane as a human would be. There are many voices in my head that tell me to do things you would consider horrific. It is believed that Aurora's mind being merged with mine trapped the spirits away from my conscience, allowing me to still be me." He frowned, the first change in emotion Irelia had seen, "She made me promise that I would never take my life."
Deciding to comfort him this time, Irelia stood up and moved to sit on the couch with him, her blades gliding behind her. She placed her hand on his leg, "I'm so sorry, Connor. I know that I can't fix what has been done to you, but if there's anything you need, I'll try to help." She looked up to him with a small smile. He blushed.
I'm beginning to like her.
"Do you have a family Irelia?" he asked, changing the subject.
"I used to, it's only my mother now and I haven't seen her in nearly a century. I grew up with four siblings, three brothers that fell alongside my father. My little sister was killed in her sleep." A single tear fell from her face.
"They died fighting for their beliefs, and whoever killed your sister deserves worse tortures than even I have endured." He stood up suddenly, and took off his chest plate by blinking out of sight, disappearing and reappearing once again with his leggings off. He wore a plain black shirt and dark gray leggings. He also had a simple leather necklace with a dark purple, almost black, orb hanging from it. "Irelia, why do you treat me as if I'm not some abomination?"
She looked at him, confused. "You're not an abomination."
"Everyone else seems to think I am. It's just strange, you treat me as if I'm just… I don't know, me?"
"They are ignorant then, because when I look into your eyes, I see Connor. I know you've gone through so much loss and pain, and you do everything alone and act so nonchalant, I believe that you care about some things. I know you cared so much for Aurora, and I'd like to believe that you are maybe starting to see me as a friend."
"I haven't really had any friends before, but I think I might just be able to call you a friend. Do you have any more questions for me left? I believe I have asked all I want."
"Are you in pain right now? I have seen your scars, I know the rest of your body is also going to be scarred, and your mind must be dark and cloudy."
"I am in pain, Irelia. A constant pain, splitting headache, every inch of my body is in pain, but when you've been in pain for a decade straight, you tend to just become numb. Nothing will numb my pain, simply because true pain stays with you no matter what. My soul is broken, along with my heart, and my mind. I am, simply put, broken."
Keep living Connor, for me.
So? Big bombshell drops right? I'll reveal how Aurora died sometime, not now though. I really want to explore the fact that Connor is a shade, but functions as a proper person, if you can call how he functions proper xd. I'm also really excited to spend more time with Irelia. The next chapter may or may not be the battle of Farthen Dur as well, so look forward! Thanks for reading btw 3