In. And out.
Her breathing slowed. Calmness settled into her bones.
“Good,” came Midas’s soft voice. “Now, project that blank slate to your surroundings. Spread that awareness farther than just your body.”
Trivia’s brows knitted together, but she forced herself to focus on the waves. This was the part that always snapped her out of her focus. When she had to empty her mind but also think about her next task, it was almost impossible to move forward.
During her last three attempts, she had gritted her teeth and concentrated so hard that she got frustrated and lashed out at Midas.
This time, she would go about it differently. Instead of thinking about her next move, she focused on the ocean’s waves for a few more beats.
One.
Two.
Three.
Then, slowly, she envisioned the tide coming in. Thewater lapped over the sand, inching closer to the grassy hill just beyond the shore. Inch by inch, the waves moved in. The sand slowly vanished underneath the swell. The cerulean waters sparkled in the sunlight, easing Trivia’s nerves and cooling her temper.
She felt nothing but peace. She merely watched the sea surge higher and higher until it reached the bottom of the hill, covering the sand completely.
“Gods above,” Midas murmured.
Trivia’s eyes fluttered open, and she stifled a yelp.
She stood on a veranda overlooking the very sea she’d been picturing. What had once been nothing more than her imagination was now a reality before her. But it wasn’t quite the same. There was no grassy hill. And these waves were more turquoise than bright blue. Gleaming white pillars supported a dome-shaped ceiling that towered over her. The walls were adorned with gold geometric patterns that gleamed in the sunlight.
Trivia swallowed hard, trying not to panic at this change in scenery. “What—What is this place?”
“It’s Pandora’s construct within the box,” Midas explained. “This is the home she built for herself.”
Realization struck Trivia, and her eyes widened. This looked just like Elysium. In fact, she was almost certain she’d been on a similar veranda in the palace during her stay there.
The minute differences could be attributed to how much time had passed since Pandora lived in Elysium. The ocean and beach were nothing more than an illusion. It was likely the enchantment had changed over the years.
A sharp sting of sorrow pierced Trivia’s heart as sheconsidered how long it had been since Pandora had beenhome.She probably missed it terribly.
Trivia knew firsthand how potent that feeling was. She had lived with it her entire life. Not just from Pandora’s memories, but her own.
Trivia had never had a home before. Not truly.
Not until she’d met Sol.
“Whatever you did that time is the key,” Midas said, startling Trivia from her thoughts “Focus on that every time.”
A lump formed in Trivia’s throat, and a sour taste filled her mouth. She hated thinking of the beach.
It always reminded her of Sol. Gods, she missed him.
“All right.” Her voice shook slightly. “What now?”
Midas crossed his arms. “You’ve pushed yourself a lot today, Trivia.”
Today.Trivia nearly snorted at the word. There was no concept of time in this place. How could Midas possibly know how long they’d been training?
But he was right. Her bones were weary, and her head throbbed with fatigue. She needed to keep her mental shields up for when Pandora sought her out again, and her mind was getting weaker with each passing moment.
“I can handle it,” she insisted, knowing she would need to work harder if she hoped to succeed.
