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The priestess nods and leaves, shutting the wooden doors behind her.
Bright mosaics cover all the walls, their images depicting various interpretations of the Mother. The sun and sky are also frequently featured, which is to be expected since the Goddess Zolane is closely associated with them.
I peel the layers of sullied indigo fabric from my body, my nose creasing at all the stains. I’m sure my robes stink, but the fragrance wafting from the pool is strong enough to mask all other scents. I pull off my boots, which also didn’t escape the barrage of rotten food, and leave them beside my folded-up robes. Even my undergarments somehow received a few stains.
Once I’ve shed my dirty clothes, I step down to the pool of water. I reach the last step and gaze into the water. My reflection is distorted by the rippling surface and floating petals, but it’s clear enough to see the tomato juice on my cheek and matted in my hair. I crouch and dip my hand into the pool and use the water to wipe the stain from my cheek.
Those people in the streets hated me today. I’ve never seen anyone look at me with so much loathing—except perhaps for the Void Prince—and all those people were strangers. I’ve done nothing to harm them personally, and yet they hated me for the fact I used dark magic to summon a demon from the Abyss.
If the people of Nolderan could see me now, would their eyes hold the same burning hatred as the people of Esterra City? Would they ever forgive me for leading them to their deaths and mutilation? For abusing my power as a mage and breaking the Arcanium’s teachings by summoning a Void Prince?
My father wouldn’t. Would Eliya? She was the most understanding person I’ve ever known, so maybe she would forgive me even if I don’t deserve to be forgiven.
I swirl my finger in the pool and watch the surface ripple around it.
What Caya said earlier about slight ripples entirely changing the course of the future echoes through my mind. In the water, images flash by of a different world where Nolderan isn’t destroyed. Where those I love are living and breathing. Where the boy I knew since childhood didn’t shatter my heart.
If I made wiser choices, would the present be completely different? Instead of being here in this strange land of sun and sand, would I be giggling with Eliya over a bottle of moon blossom wine?
I draw out a heavy sigh and slip down into the water. It’s cooler than I expect, so I hold out both hands underwater and let aether gather in them. “Calida.” Warmth blossoms through the water and caresses my skin. When the water is a more comfortable temperature, I tilt back my head and gaze up.
The ceiling has been carved out to reveal the open sky. Night has not yet fallen, but the clouds are tinted with a rosy glow and amber light streaks through them. I shift backward so I’m partially floating and stare at the sky.
It has been two weeks since Nolderan fell, and yet the pain in my heart hasn’t at all diminished. How many months—years—will it take before the wounds are no longer raw? Will I ever be able to think of those I love without tears pricking my eyes, without the anchor of guilt weighing on my heart?
Will I ever again feelnormal?
The young, carefree Reyna died the night Heston murdered my mother. The grief of losing my mother—watchinghelplessly as she was killed—was unbearable. Continuing to live my life after that was almost impossible, but I managed by throwing myself into my academic studies and vowing to become the best mage I could be. Now I don’t have my lectures to distract me. I only have vengeance and a loathsome Void Prince. I don’t know how I will ever heal and become whole again.
The shuddering of the doors from the other side of the room interrupts my thoughts. I flop back with a splash, scattering petals across the pool, and swivel around. A maid hurries in with a fluffy towel, fresh robes, and my staff, and Zephyr flutters behind her.
My fragile heart surges at the sight of Zephyr. Not only do I have vengeance and a Void Prince but also my faerie dragon. He’s the last little piece of home I have, and a weight is lifted from my shoulders at the sight of him fine and well. Though the priestesses may have marched Natharius and me to our execution, it doesn’t seem they’ve inflicted their wrath upon my faerie dragon.
He zips through the air and does a loop before coming to a stop before hovering over the water’s surface. He stares at me with his glittering eyes.
“Miss me?” I ask.
He answers by nudging my shoulder with his muzzle, and I run my fingers across the smooth scales on his forehead.
“I’ll leave everything here,” the maid says, her small voice barely reaching across the room. She places the towel, robes and my staff atop the steps leading to the pool and scoops my sullied clothes and boots into her arms.
“Thank you,” I call after her.
She dips her head. “Do you require anything else?”
Zephyr snaps his teeth together and snorts.
I laugh. “Food and drink, please.”
She frowns as she looks at Zephyr’s hungry expression. “We tried feeding your pet berries, seeds and grains like our doves, but he would hardly touch any of his food. We weren’t sure what else to feed him.”
I laugh and hold out my hand. “Crysanthius.” Aether solidifies into crystals, and Zephyr’s eyes widen at the sight. He swoops down to my hand and gobbles them up. His forked tongue flicks out and licks every trace of aether from my palm.
“Zephyr is quite the fussy eater,” I say to the maid. “He won’t really eat anything other than aether crystals.”
“I’m not sure we’ll be able to accommodate for aether crystals, but it looks like you already have that covered. Shall I send for your food to be brought in here?”
“To my room, please. I won’t be much longer in here.”
