Page 74 of Dance of Stars and Ashes

“I agree,” Apsara said, arms crossed over her chest, her white feathers ruffling. Zarya looked at her gratefully.

“But we don’t know how to stop this!” Suvanna said, looking even more angry than usual. Her blue-green hair floated around her, its movement as agitated as she was. “How do we destroy the darkness?”

“She’s right,” Zarya said. “My magic only seems to hamper it, stun it for a little while, but whatever is in those streets is very much still alive and will try again.”

Zarya chose her words carefully. The blight hadn’t been beaten or hampered. She’d soothed it, persuaded it to retreat, and it had obeyed as well as any trained soldier. Nightfire was a way to control the darkness—Row hadn’t been wrong about that—but she suspected he’d meant it in a different way than she was experiencing. Her control came through obedience rather than through force.

“I may have some insight to offer,” said a voice coming from the Jai Tree entrance. Professor Dhawan stood with a book in his hand.

He entered the room as everyone followed his movements. He stopped in front of Zarya and peered at her.

“Something about your magic was bothering me,” he said. “It’s a rare gift, yes, but there was something else I was forgetting. A memory I couldn’t quite grasp.”

Dhawan shuffled forward, coming to stand in the center of the majestic chamber.

“I don’t know why I didn’t see it earlier. The five of you came here to fight this plague.”

He looked at Row, Kindle, Koura, Suvanna, and Apsara, studying each in turn.

“The Chiranjivi have existed for as long as anyone can remember. Magical beings representing each of the realms. Selected by destiny. Of course, the borders of kingdoms and queendoms are merely a convention. They change, they shift, they grow, they die, but the gifts tied to the land do not change. No matter where they’ve lain over the centuries, each realm has fostered a unique gift bestowed on only one worthy being.

“Often, those gifts are regarded as rare by those around you, but tell me, Apsara, have you actually ever met another vidyadhara who can wield ice?”

Apsara shook her head. “No, most of my kind can only work with wind.”

“Not most. All. Only you can wield ice.” Apsara’s eyebrows drew together.

“Suvanna, your ability to draw water from air is also a unique gift, otherwise unseen amongst your people.”

The merdeva nodded in acknowledgment.

“Koura, you don’t just heal—you can restore life. Name someone else who can do that.”

Koura also nodded.

“Kindle, your gift of controlling emotions is extraordinary. While most agni can influence them, you can do much more than that, can’t you?”

Zarya shot Kindle a dark look, remembering when he’d assured her he couldn’t alter a person’s feelings.

“It’s not something I choose for people to know. It would make me a target,” Kindle replied. Dhawan gave him a knowing glance.

“Row, you are gifted with runes. Only your abilities were strong enough to hold back the blight from your home all those years.”

Row’s expression was nonplussed, clearly distrusting the place Dhawan was leading with this information. Five sets of eyes regarded each other across the room.

“The Chiranjivi were formed at the end of the Hanera Wars to act as stewards. They were to serve as a reminder to never stray into the darkness again. To never be tempted by its power. And for a thousand years, they have done that.

“Your unique powers have passed through generations as Chiranjivi have died and been reborn. But your creation was so long ago that most people don’t remember why they even existed.

“And, of course, that originally, there were seven.”

Dhawan’s gaze went to Rabin. “Five came when they were called. But one did not. Now, the sixth is here, and I can’t help but wonder what forces brought you home.”

Zarya looked at Rabin, as did everyone else, while he stared at Dhawan with a look she couldn’t interpret.

“Some powerful rakshasas have the ability to shift into animals, but you are the only dragon to exist. Isn’t that right?” Dhawan asked, touching the side of his nose, his eyes sparkling. “And everyone knows that to be dragon-touched is to have the luck of the gods on your side.”

Rabin nodded as well, his dragon-scale tattoo visible through the opening in his kurta.