save me from myself

Though Iroh's final words were meant to be comforting they brought Pyrrhic nothing but pain. His eyes pinched shut as the younger Abraxas spoke and he had to fight the urge to shake his head. It didn't occur to him right away that what Iroh was saying was blasphemous. When it did his eyes opened slowly. Pyrrhic stared blankly at Iroh as he tried to sort through his feelings. He knew he should be outraged but what he didn't know was whether or not he could allow himself to be relieved. Ultimately that's how he wanted to feel but admitting it felt impossible. He wasn't supposed to be relieved to learn someone else shared his tepid feelings; he was supposed to be filled with righteous indignation. But he was relieved.

His gaze dropped to the ground as a bolt of guilt shot through his heart. It wasn't right. Pyrrhic shook his head."The Emperor is supposed to be our connection to God; a direct link. It was one thing when I didn't hear him as heir...but now..." Now he was Emperor.

He almost couldn't bring himself to say it. This was his biggest fear and until now he'd never said it out loud. Softly he asked, "What if it's not supposed to be me? What if I'm wrong?"