“Right back at—”
“Enough chit-chat,” Dovelyn interrupted. “I think this is a horrible idea to begin with, and if I sit on it any longer, I won’t go.”
“Why are you helping us?” Peter asked, bringing his arms in front of him as he leaned forward on the bed.
“I’m not doing it for you or for Sie.”
“Then why?” he pressed.
Kallon answered when Dovelyn didn’t, “Because Tezya asked us to help. Actually he begged us to help…”
“That’s enough,” Tezya cut her off.
“How are you planning on keeping a shield over Kallon if you’re down in the prison?” I asked Dovelyn, trying another tactic.
She turned to me, then shrugged. “I learned to separate my abilities.”
“Is separating your abilities the same as our protective shields?”
“No, but the end result is similar.”
“How?” I pressed.
“We don’t have time for a history lesson,” Dovelyn deadpanned.
Peter grinned as he cut in, “Actually, we do. We have to wait for the prison entrance to reopen for shift change, so we have about,” he paused, pretending to look at his wrist, “ten minutes before we have to leave, and I’dloveto hear your lesson.”
Dovelyn pinched the bridge of her nose, but to my surprise, she answered, “Separating your powers allows you to leave your magic running even after you’re gone. You have to initially be present to start your magic in a particular place, but if you haveenough concentration and power, you can travel far distances while it’s still working.”
“Is that what keeps the balcony covered in Tezya’s condo?” I asked, thinking back to how he’d told me it was always shielded.
“Almost. That’s called partition of powers and it’s even more rare than separation. I created the shield when I was at his condo, but in order to leave it up permanently without me having to concentrate, I had to give up a piece of my reserve.” She sighed. “I guess there’s no point in having it there now. In a couple of weeks, whenever my father realizes we’ve all left, he’ll destroy the place.” She shrugged. “It’s why most Advenians don’t create partitions, and they choose separation instead. You might realize one day you no longer need it, but you can never get that power back.”
I was about to ask her to elaborate, but Kallon beat me to it. “Think of it like my portals,” she said. “I have to be present to create each portal, but once it’s up, my magic stays. The only difference is my portals don’t permanently steal from my reserves. Partition is really advanced and not all ranks are capable of it. And you need a large reserve to even be able to manage it. Not all abilities have the potential for it so it’s rarely taught.
“Then you have the protective shields surrounding Lux, Tennebris, and the prison. They’re slightly different from partition,” Kallon continued. “Partition of magic can remain in place for the duration of an Advenian’s life, but it’s technically still temporary. If the person who created it dies, their powers will fade with them. It’s only permanent while the Advenian is alive. But the protective shields never go away. It took hundreds of air and illusion users to originally erect them, and they had to do it during the remaining effects of Lakimi. We don’t have the time now to explain it all to you, but it involves reciting specific prayers to the Goddesses, and if it’s done correctly, the shieldsbecome permanent. They will remain forever, even after the Advenians who made them die.”
“What did Advenians do when they first came here?” Peter asked, seeming genuinely curious, and it made me wonder if this was something only taught in Lux. Our curriculum was supposed to be equivalent, but I was second guessing everything we’d ever been taught.
“They had air and illusion users stationed outside each perimeter and usually compulsion users in case a mortal did come across it,” Kallon answered. “They constantly had to reinforce it and took turns in shifts. Think of it like tiers. Separation most Advenians are capable of, it just depends on how many and how far you can go with it. It drains your reserves, but with rest, it’ll replenish. Partition permanently steals, but it will last as long as the Advenian who made it is alive, and our protective shields surpass the user as long as it was done under Lakimi.”
“So you’re willing to give up a piece of your reserves to rescue Sie?” Peter asked Dovelyn.
“No. I’m using separation.”
“But separation will drain your reserves,” I pressed. “You said you need to concentrate to be able to use it—”
“Don’t,” Dovelyn cut me off. “I know what you’re trying to do, and it’s not working. I don’t need or want your help.”
I went to open my mouth, but Dovelyn stopped me. “It’s been ten minutes. Let’s go before I change my mind.” She walked over to Kallon and took her hand.
“Be safe,” Tezya said, and I didn’t miss the wariness in his voice.
“Always.” Dovelyn smiled at her brother, and it was warm and sweet, the complete opposite of her usual cool arrogance. It was strange to see her soft side, despite knowing they were close.
Peter rose and grabbed Kallon’s other hand.
I took a steadying breath, praying this would work. Tezyaand I were on the opposite side of the room, the only ones not touching her.
