Mystudy of magic had always been my greatest value; evenHadeonhad seen that.IfIcould use it to keepJunsafe,Iwould.
“Junknows this,Tori, but my mother was the one who built the enchantment aroundMalech’sheart forHadeon.Well,Ishould say she built it forKingObion, but that’s irrelevant now.Theydiscovered that a dragon’s heart is the key to its conduit magic.Theenchantment around it not only keeps it safe but also binds the heart toHadeon, conducting magic directly to him.Thatis how he has been able to keep his magic strong after all these centuries.It’squite an elaborate enchantment, actually, the most elaborate one that has ever existed.Itwas truly a work of artistry that my mother created, combining the newest theorems on spatial control with ancient rites on power transference in a way…”Icut myself off asTori’seyes started glazing over, butJunwas grinning.
“What?”Pallas, would you stop with your droning on and on; it’s tedious.Hadeon’swords rang in my head, andIhated how they made me shrink intomyself.
“Ilove when you get so excited about enchantments.Yourface always lights up,”Junsaid, still smiling.
Hewas too good for me.Thosevery enchantments had been what bound him toHadeon, but he smiled at me.Isaw the pain in his heart, asI’msure his sister did, but he soothed the ache in mineIlong thought was permanent.Ofcourse,Iwould never leave him.Ihad failed him before;Iwould not do that again.
IsawTori’sfist clench on the piece of paper she was holding. “So, we were right.Weneed to break that enchantment, and thenHadeonwill be powerless.”
“No, he will still have his fae magic, a magic that was strong enough to defeatMalech.”
“Andthat is different from whatIhave?”
“Whenyou channel, what does it feel like?”
Shepressed her lips together. “Likea flow… a river of power.It’slikeI’mtrying to guide water with just my bare hands.”
“You’reable to control mana, at least a small amount.Youcan guide the very magic of the earth; that’s something no fae has ever been able to do.”
“Thenwhat was magic before?”Toriinquired.
“Faeused to be born with a small well of their own power;Animavitaorfae magic.Eachwas unique, something that resonated with the fae’s soul.Jun’svoice is an example, andHadeon’slightning is another.Theycan manifest their magic until that well runs dry.Itwill replenish with time, but it is a slow process.”
“Theamount of power each fae had was different; some had more than others, while other folks, such as theHuldu, were especially gifted.Evensome humans had it, but the fae tried to hide that fact.Itwas actually weakest among the royal lines.”Igave a soft chuckle. “Exceptfor theCorignusline… which now makes more sense.”Thesmall humorIfound left me. “Asyoucan imagine, the fae kings weren’t so happy about not having their own power.”
Tori’sface darkened. “No,Ican’t imagine they were.Somethingthat anyone could have; power they weren’t able to control and horde.”
“ButHadeonis royal, and his power was legendary before he even defeatedMalech, “Juninterjected.
Hadeonisn’t royal.Ididn’t say it.EverydayIspent away from him,Irealized more and more the abuse thatIsuffered under him.Nevertheless,Istill couldn’t bring myself to say his greatest shame.
Luckily, neither twin questioned it further. “So, the royals found another way.Enchantments, correct?”
Inodded. “Enchantmentswere originally developed by magi to enhance their magic and allow them to expand what they could do with more precise control.Butthen it was discovered they could guide mana.Theyact as a way for fae to tap into the earth’s power.Asmall spark of animavita is all that is needed to activate them, and then a trade is made for the power.”
“Atrade?”
Inodded. “Afae with magic can offer up a small amount of their power, but one can also use—”
“Theirlifeforce.”Torilocked eyes with me. “Wouldn’tthere still be a limit on how much power one could use until the extent of one’s lifeforce is up?”
“Inever said that only the enchanter’s lifeforce could be used.”
Aterrible realization dawned on her face. “Thegreat beasts.Theywere hunted to power fae magic.”
“Yes.Nothingcould compare to the power released at their death.KingObion’sentire kingdom was built on the souls of more beasts than can be counted.Themore that were killed,the greater the price became until the earth no longer responded to our enchantments’ call.”
“Butsome still remain?”
“Yes.Withenough fae magic, one doesn’t need mana to power an enchantment.Hadeoncan power every enchantment he has ever needed with just his own power.Abraxaswas doing the same here, if to a lesser extent.”
Torinodded. “Iunderstand the earth withholding its power, but what about fae magic?Whyhas that also disappeared?”
“Thatis… the great mystery.Mymother spent the last decades of her life trying to discern why mana stopped responding and animavita faded.Shenever found an answer.”
“Butyou have an idea.”Theprincess didn’t pose it as a question. “Saywhat you are thinking,Pallas.”
